Hydraulic air-compressor.



Patented Mar. 13,1900.' N. J. LocKYER.

HYDRAULIC AIR COMPRESSOR.

(Application filed Nom-3, 1896.)

(No Model.)

R I l i IIIM 0. o 4 2 Hll'l-Wvmwn.. R 3 0 a U a T o O O o A. o I

Ntra rn-'rhs Erre-'rit NORMAN JOSEPH LOCKYER, OF LENZIE, SCOTLAND.

HYDRAUUC Alu-COMPRESSOR,

srnorrrcaron forming part of Letters Patent 10.645,109, dated Maren 1s,190e.

Application filed November 3, 1896. Serial No. 610,972. (No model.)

To tZZ whom it may concern: y

Be it known that I, NORMAN JOsEPH LOOK- YER, engineer, of 14 RegentSquare, Lenzie, in the county of Dumbarton, Scotland, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Air- Oompressing Apparatus AforRaising Beer or other Liquids, ot which the following is aspeciiication.

This invention relates to apparatusforcompressing air for use in raisingliquids, such as beer,trom barrels in cellars for delivery at thecounter, the improved apparatus being operated by water under regulatedpressure from the towns supply Or other source and the desiredairepressure being maintained notwithstanding variable consumption.

The invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a vertical section of the appa ratus, and Fig. 2 amodification of a detail.

' The improved apparatus comprises a cylindrical or other vessel A, towhich water is admitted from the main for the purpose of compressing airwithin the vessel and from which it is exhausted to admit a fresh-airsupply before repeating the compressing operation. The water is admittedthrough a pressure-regulating valve B, hereinafter referred to, andthence through an inlet O in the lower end of the air vessel or casingA, a wastewater outlet D being fitted in proximity to the inlet and bothterminating in a valve-casing E, in which is fitted a pistonvalve F,adapted to cover or close the outlet D as the inlet O is opened and,vice versa, to

close the inlet C as the outlet D is opened.

The operation of this valve F is effected automatically by means of atumbler-lever G,

which in turn is actuated by a iioat lLrising with the intlowing waterand descending on the discharge of the waste water, the inlet O beingopened on the descent of the ioat H to its lowest point,as shown by thedrawings, and the discharge-outlet D being opened when the lioat I-I hasby the lling of the casing A been raised to its highest level, asindicated by the dotted lines. The valve F being opened, water underpressure enters and gradually lls the casing A, the air withinit beingcompressed and forced through a nonreturn valve I, iitted at the top,whence it passes through a ilood-preventer,hereinafter described, to apressiuechamber or directly to the barrels from which the beer is to beraised. As the water enters the casing A the ioat Il rises with it,being guided in its movement by a slotted tube J ,extending verticallyupward from the bottom of the casing A. On reaching nearly to itshighest point tlie lioat comes into contact with a cross piece or disk Kon the upper end of a rod L inside the slotted tube J', said rod Lhaving attached to its lower end a slotted bar M, which can freely riseand fall inside the vertical tube J. The slotted bar M engages one armof a bellcrank N, whose other arm is connected by means of slotted linksO to the piston-valve F, which controls the admission and discharge ot'the water. The third arm Gr on bell-crank spindle P is fitted with aweight G and acts as a tumbler to operate the valve quickly. When theannular iioat H comes in contact with the cross piece or disk K on thevertical rod L, it continues to ascend with the water, and ythe slottedbar M at its lower end rises with it and tilts the bell-crank N untilthe arm G, carrying the weight G', passes the vertical position, whenthe tuinbler falls over by gravity. A pin N in the end of the second armof the bell-crank N is by this movement caused to traverse the slot inthe links O, connected to the piston-valve F, and push over the valve,so as to close the inlet-port O and shut oft the supply ot' Water underpressure, at the same time opening the discharge-port D, through whichthe water in the casing A runs out. When the discharge-port D is opened,an annular passage F', formed around the piston-valve F, brings apassage F2, leading from the outside of the casing A, into communicationwith an airtube P, and thus permits a fresh supply ot air to enter thecasing A, or the partial vacuum caused by the discharge of the water mayopen an air-valve Q in a pipe P, secured on the casing, as shown at Fig.2, to admit a fresh supply of air. As the water-level falls the tloat Hdescends until it rests on projections R on the slot-ted bar M, and asthe water-level continues to fall the Weight of the iioat H, resting onthe projections R, increases until it becomes suliicient to overcome theresistance of the weighted tumblerarm Gr. The bell-crank N then fallsback IOS into the original position and .moves the piston-valve `F withit, thus allowing a :fresh supply of Water under pressure to enter thecasing A through the inlet-port O.

For the purpose of regulating the pressure of the Water entering theair-compressor A,

and thus regulating the pressure of the air delivered, the automaticpressure reducing or regulating valve B is provided on the inlet-pipe Tfrom the main. This is composed of a casing U, having a piston-valve U',closing on the annular inlet-orifice and attached to a metallic,leather, or other diaphragm U2, held down by a spring, the pressure onwhich is regulated by screw-nuts or by a Weighted lever U3, as shown.From the chamber formed under the diaphragm the Water enters theair-compressor by the inlet-port O. Whenever the pressure ou the underside of the diaphragm U2 exceeds a given amount, the spring iscompressed or the lever U3 lifted, and the valve reduces or closes theWatersupply until the pressure in the air-compressor A, andconsequently, that under the diaphragm U2, is reduced by the reductionof air-pressure in the casks, owing to beer being consumed or toleakage.

In the event of failure of the mechanism in the air-compressor A it isnecessary to prevent the entrance ot Water under pressure into theair-pipe V, and thus into the casks. For this purpose I provide acombined nonreturn-valve chamber and a flood-preventing device. This iscomposed of a closed casing W, connected to the upper end of thecompression vesselA by an orifice fitted with the self-closingnon-return valve I, already mentioned, and having in it a iioat W2,having on its upper side a valve W2, adapted to close against a seat V4,formed on the outlet for the compressed air, the oat 72 beingconveniently guided by an extension of the valvevspindle W5 into theair-delivery pipe V. So

mains off its seat W4 and the ioat W2 does not move. When Water,however, passes the non-return valve I, the float W2 rises and the valveW2 on it takes its seat W4, closing the air-delivery pipe V to thecasks. This apparatus is designedly somewhat difficult to restart aftera Jfailure of the air-compressor A, so as to render necessary anexamination of the parts. The non-retu rn valve I cannot rise from itsseat sufficiently to permit of the fioat W2 being raised by theair-pressure, and thus prevent the valve W3 upon the iioa't fromstopping the delivery of air to the casks.

Having noW described the invention, What I desire to claim and secure byLetters Patent 1sl. In an apparatus for compressing air having suitableair inlet and outlet, and also suitable water inlet and outlet, apiston-valve controlling both water-openings and the air-inlet, atumbler-lever connected .with said valve, and a float adapted, when itarrives near the upper endof its course, to operate said lever and thuscause the valve to close the Waterinlet and open the air-inlet andWater-outlet, and when said float arrives near the lower end of itscourse, to open the water-inlet and close the air-inlet andWater-outlet, substantially as set forth. A

2. In apparatus for compressing air, the combination With an air-chamberhaving suitable Water and air inlet and outlet pipes, of a valvecontrolling the Water inlet and outlet, a iioat, a slotted tube J alongwhich the same moves, rod L moving in said tube and adapted to engagewith the iioat and having a slotted portion M, and bell-crank lever Nactuated by said slotted portion and adapted to operate aforesaid valve,substantially as set forth.

Signed at Glasgow, in the county of Lanark, Scotland, this 20th day ofOctober, 1896.

NORMAN JOSEPH LOOKYER. lVitnesses:

WALLACE FAIRWEATHER, JNO. ARMSTRONG, J uur.

